Spathiphyllum plant named ‘ZOE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Spathiphyllum  cultivar named ‘ZOE’ is disclosed, characterized by dark green, glossy foliage, strong, bushy basal emergence of leaves and clear white inflorescence with a slight green vein. The new variety is commercially suitable for indoor plant production.

Latin name of the genus and species: Spathiphyllum Schott.

Variety denomination: ‘ZOE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety originated from a cross pollination, made by the inventor, of anunidentified, unpatented seed parent and an unidentified, unpatentedpollen parent, both Spathiphyllum Schott.

The new variety was discovered by the inventor, Daniel Cornelis, acitizen of Belgium, in February 2003 in a group of seedlings resultingfrom the crossing. The new cultivar was found in a commercial greenhouse belonging to the inventor in Melsem-Merelbeke, Belgium.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘ZOE’ was first performed inBelgium by tissue culture in May 2004. ‘ZOE’ has been reproduced bymicro-propagation and has shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type. At least 6 generationshave been reproduced at the time of this filing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ZOE’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ZOE.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘ZOE’ as a new and distinct Spathiphyllumcultivar:

-   -   1. Dark green foliage.    -   2. Glossy foliage.    -   3. Clear white inflorescence.    -   4. Distinctive bushy base due to a high number of shoots arising        from the base of the plant.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ZOE’ cannot be compared to either seedparent or pollen parent as records of those characteristics were notkept. However, ‘ZOE’ can be compared to the commercial varietySpathiphyllum Schott. ‘Mara’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,422. Plants of‘Mara’ are similar to plants of ‘ZOE’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, ‘ZOE’ has much darker and smaller leaves than‘Mara.’ Additionally ‘ZOE’ produces many more shoots and has a smallerinflorescence than ‘Mara.’

‘ZOE’ can also be compared to compared to the commercial varietySpathiphyllum Schott. ‘Alfa CD’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,823. Plants of‘Alfa CD’ are similar to plants of ‘ZOE’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, ‘ZOE’ has much darker and glossier leaves than‘Alfa CD.’ Additionally ‘ZOE’ produces many more shoots and has morecrenated leaf margins than ‘Alfa CD.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘ZOE’ grown in a greenhouse in Apopka, Fla. This plantis approximately 9 months old, shown in a 6 inch pot. The photograph wastaken using conventional techniques and although colors may appeardifferent from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurateas possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘ZOE’ plants grown in a climate controlledgreenhouse in Apopka, Fla., USA. Temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22°C. at night to 18° C. to 22° C. during the day. No artificial light,photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to theplants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types.

-   Botanical classification: Spathiphyllum Schott. cultivar ‘ZOE.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 8 days from an initial cutting    at approximately 20 to 22° C.-   Time to produce rooted cutting: Approximately 16 days at    approximately 20 to 22° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Leaves growing directly from base of plant, with no    stems.-   Plant shape: Upright, leaves slightly arching out.-   Height: Approximately 48 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 32 cm in a 6 inch pot.-   Normal pot size: 6 inch and larger.-   Growth Rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: No branching. Leaves emerge direct from    base of plant.-   Number of clumps of leaves: 12.-   Number of leaves per Clump: Average 15.-   Number of leaves per plant: Approximately 180.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 9 months.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Single leaves emerging basally.        -   Average length (excluding petiole).—Approximately 22.5 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 9.8 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Elliptic.        -   Aspect.—Slightly recurved.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, moderately glossy.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, moderately glossy.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near R.H.S. Green 139B.            Young foliage under side: Near R.H.S. Green 137D. Mature            foliage upper side: Near R.H.S. Green 139A. Mature foliage            under side: Near R.H.S. Green 141C.-   Venation:    -   -   Type.—Pinnate.        -   Venation coloration upper side.—Green 143A.        -   Venation coloration under side.—Green 143C.-   Petiole (excluding Geniculum):    -   -   Length.—Approximately 23 cm.        -   Width.—At geniculum: Approximately 0.6 cm. Above clump:            Approximately 1.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 141C.        -   Strength.—Moderate.-   Geniculum:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 3.2 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143B.

INFLORESCENCE

-   -   -   Arrangement.—Spathes with spadices held above the foliage on            erect peduncles arising from the petiole sheath.        -   Flowering habit.—Continuous.        -   Quantity of spathes per plant.—On average 3 fully open            spathes in good condition.        -   Natural flowering season.—Autumn to Winter.        -   Time of flowering.—6 months.        -   Fragrance.—Very slight. Sweet.        -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Persistent.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers stay in good condition            approximately 3 weeks on the plant.

-   Spathe:    -   -   Aspect.—Slightly concave. More concave at base, mostly flat            moving towards apex.        -   Length.—Approximately 14 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 5.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Apiculate, with a slight twist.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Color.—Front when opening: Near RHS White 155C. Strong            mid-vein and some small lateral veins of RHS Green 141C and            141D. Back when opening: Near RHS White 155C. Strong            mid-vein and some small lateral veins of RHS Green 141C and            141D. Front when mature: Near RHS White 155C. Strong            mid-vein and some small lateral veins of RHS Green 141C and            141D. Back when mature: Near RHS White 155C. Strong mid-vein            and some small lateral veins of RHS Green 141C and 141D.            Fading to: No fading

-   Spadix    -   -   Shape.—Columnar, arising from the top of the peduncle.        -   Tip.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Length.—Approximately 4.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 2.8 cm.        -   Color.—When opening: Near RHS Yellow-White 158C.        -   Mature.—Near RHS Yellow-White 158B.        -   Quantity of flowers per spadix.—Approximately 130.        -   Spadix flower arrangement.—Bisexual, rounded.        -   Spadix flower diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Spadix flower depth.—Approximately 0.1 cm.

-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 35 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 141C.        -   Strength.—Moderate.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   -   -   Ovary color.—Near RHS 155B.        -   Stigma color.—Near RHS 155B.        -   Anther color.—Near RHS 155A.        -   Quantity of pollen.—Scant.        -   Pollen color.—Near RHS 155A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: The new cultivar is a typical    Spathiphyllum, cold tolerant to approximately 5 to 7° C. and does    not tolerate drought.-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Spathiphyllum plant named ‘ZOE’ asherein illustrated and described.